The Department of English offers courses intended to expand students' awareness of their culture and of themselves, to encourage the skillful use of the English language and to develop recognition of the masterful use of language by others.

Literature courses provide opportunities to study the prose and poetry of the English language and of other languages in translation. The Department's wide range of literature courses enables serious students to acquire an understanding of the social and political concepts which have appeared in literature, thus enhancing their ability to comprehend the characteristics of their own culture.

Liberal Studies courses in English complement the professional and professionally related components of student curricula, developing "the capacity to understand and appraise the social and cultural context in which the graduate will work as a professional and live as an educated citizen." In addition to its Liberal Studies offerings, the English Department offers an English Option to students in Arts and Contemporary Studies and an English Minor to students in other programs.

LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY COURSES

Along with its literature courses, the English Department offers Liberal Studies courses designed for students whose first language is not English. LNG 100 Language and Identity, LNG 200 Language and Public Life and LNG 300 Language: Spoken and Written are language and writing intensive courses available to students who have been assessed as likely to benefit from this type of program. Students for whom English is a second language and who are enrolled in programs that accept ESL courses for credit may take all three ESL courses, LNG 100, LNG 200 and LNG 300. However, a maximum of two credits only may be used towards their degree requirements. These courses are Lower Level Liberal Studies courses.